Vehicle and control method for the vehicle

ABSTRACT

A vehicle includes a display unit for displaying a first character input User Interface (UI) in which a plurality of characters are arranged to surround a predetermined reference point, a touch input apparatus having a concave area for detecting a touch gesture of selecting one character of the plurality of characters, and a controller for controlling the display unit to display, wherein if the number of pre-stored completed character combinations corresponding to an input character combination configured with at least one character sequentially selected according to the touch gesture detected by the touch input apparatus is smaller than or equal to a threshold value, a second character input UI in which the completed character combinations corresponding to the input character combination are arranged to surround the reference point.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the benefit of priority to Korean PatentApplication No. 10-2015-0095404, filed on Jul. 3, 2015 with the KoreanIntellectual Property Office, the disclosure of which is incorporatedherein by reference.

TECHNICAL FIELD

Embodiments of the present disclosure relate to a vehicle including atouch input apparatus having a concave area, and to a method ofcontrolling the vehicle.

BACKGROUND

Vehicles often have various functions for improving a passenger'sconvenience, in addition to driving functions. However, the morefunctions a vehicle has, the more operating load a driver experiences.Excessive operating load deteriorates a driver's concentration ondriving. Also, as a vehicle has more functions, a driver's difficultiesin operating the vehicle might increase accordingly, such that a drivermight be not able to properly use all functions the vehicle can perform.

In order to overcome the problem, studies into a vehicle-mounted inputdevice for reducing a driver's operating load and difficulties have beenconducted. A representative example of such a vehicle-mounted inputdevice is a touch input device capable of detecting a driver's touchinputs. If a vehicle has such a touch input device, a driver would beable to easily control the vehicle by touching the touch input devicewithout having to perform any complicated manipulations.

SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE

Therefore, it is an aspect of the present disclosure to provide avehicle capable of displaying a character input User Interface (UI) toshow pre-stored completed character combinations corresponding to aninput character combination, and a method of controlling the vehicle.

Additional aspects of the disclosure will be set forth in part in thedescription which follows and, in part, will be obvious from thedescription, or may be learned by practice of the disclosure.

In accordance with one aspect of the present disclosure, a vehicleincludes: a display unit for displaying a first character input UserInterface (UI) in which a plurality of characters are arranged tosurround a predetermined reference point; a touch input apparatus havinga concave area for detecting a touch gesture of selecting one characterof the plurality of characters; and a controller for controlling thedisplay unit to display, if the number of pre-stored completed charactercombinations corresponding to an input character combination configuredwith at least one character sequentially selected according to the touchgesture detected by the touch input apparatus is smaller than or equalto a threshold value, a second character input UI in which the completedcharacter combinations corresponding to the input character combinationare arranged to surround the reference point.

The touch input apparatus may detect a touch gesture of selecting acompleted character combination from among the arranged completedcharacter combinations.

The controller may control the display unit to inform that the selectedcompleted character combination was selected.

The touch input apparatus may include a concave area divided into afirst area and a second area, wherein the second area may correspond tothe central part of the concave area and has a circular shape, and thefirst area may surround the circumference of the second area.

If a gesture of moving a touch location from the first area to thesecond area is detected, the controller may control the display unit toinform that a character or a completed character combinationcorresponding to the touch location of the first area was selected.

If the gesture of moving a touch location from the first area to thesecond area is detected, and successively a gesture of moving the touchlocation to the first area is detected, the controller may control thedisplay unit to inform that the selection of the selected character orthe selected completed character combination was cancelled.

If the number of completed character combinations including the entiretyof the input character combination is smaller than or equal to thethreshold value, the controller may control the display unit to displaythe second character input UI.

If the number of completed character combinations including at least onecharacter of characters configuring the input character combination issmaller than or equal to the threshold value, the controller may controlthe display unit to display the second character input UI.

The controller may control the display unit to display a secondcharacter input UI in which the completed character combinationscorresponding to the input character combination are adjusted to have apredetermined length.

The controller may reduce the sizes of the completed charactercombinations so that the completed character combinations have thepredetermined length.

The controller may omit at least one character of characters configuringeach completed character combination so that the completed charactercombinations have the predetermined length.

In accordance with another aspect of the present disclosure, a method ofcontrolling a vehicle, the vehicle including a touch input apparatushaving a concave area configured to detect a touch gesture, includes:displaying a first character input User Interface (UI) in which aplurality of characters are arranged to surround a predeterminedreference point; detecting a touch gesture of selecting a character ofthe plurality of characters; and displaying, if the number of pre-storedcompleted character combinations corresponding to an input charactercombination configured with at least one character sequentially selectedaccording to the touch gesture detected by the touch input apparatus issmaller than or equal to a threshold value, a second character input UIin which the completed character combinations corresponding to the inputcharacter combination are arranged to surround the reference point.

The method may further include: detecting a touch gesture of selecting acompleted character combination from among the arranged completedcharacter combinations; and informing that the selected completedcharacter combination was selected.

The method may further include dividing a concave area into a first areaand a second area, wherein the second area may correspond to the centralpart of the concave area and has a circular shape, and the first areamay surround the circumference of the second area.

The method may further include, if a gesture of moving a touch locationfrom the first area to the second area is detected when the firstcharacter input UI is displayed, informing that a charactercorresponding to the touch location of the first area was selected.

The method may further include, if the gesture of moving the touchlocation from the first area to the second area is detected, andsuccessively a gesture of moving the touch location to the first area isdetected, informing that the selection of the selected character wascancelled.

The method may further include, if a gesture of moving a touch locationfrom the first area to the second area is detected when the secondcharacter input UI is displayed, informing that a completed charactercombination corresponding to the touch location of the first area wasselected.

The method may further include, if the gesture of moving the touchlocation from the first area to the second area is detected, andsuccessively a gesture of moving the touch location to the first area isdetected, informing that the selection of the selected completedcharacter combination was cancelled.

The displaying of the second character input UI may include displayingthe second character input UI, if the number of completed charactercombinations including the entirety of the input character combinationis smaller than or equal to the threshold value.

The displaying of the second character input UI may include displayingthe second character input UI, if the number of completed charactercombinations including at least one character of characters configuringthe input character combination is smaller than or equal to thethreshold value.

The displaying of the second character input UI may include displaying asecond character input UI in which the completed character combinationscorresponding to the input character combination are adjusted to have apredetermined length.

The displaying of the second character input UI may include reducing thesizes of the completed character combinations so that the completedcharacter combinations have the predetermined length.

The displaying of the second character input UI may include omitting atleast one character of characters configuring each completed charactercombination so that the completed character combinations have thepredetermined length.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

These and/or other aspects of the disclosure will become apparent andmore readily appreciated from the following description of theembodiments, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings ofwhich:

FIG. 1 shows an outer appearance of a vehicle according to an embodimentof the present disclosure;

FIG. 2 shows an interior of a vehicle according to an embodiment of thepresent disclosure;

FIG. 3 is a control block diagram of a vehicle according to anembodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 4 shows an embodiment of a first character input User Interface(UI) displayed on a display unit;

FIG. 5A is a perspective view of a touch input apparatus according to anembodiment of the present disclosure, FIG. 5B is a plan view of thetouch input apparatus of FIG. 5A, and FIG. 5C is a cross-sectional viewof the touch input apparatus cut along a line A-A of FIG. 5B;

FIG. 6A is a perspective view of a touch input apparatus according toanother embodiment of the present disclosure, FIG. 6B is a plan view ofthe touch input apparatus of FIG. 6A, and FIG. 6C is a cross-sectionalview of the touch input apparatus cut along a line B-B of FIG. 6B;

FIG. 7 shows a case in which a concave area of the touch input apparatusshown in FIGS. 5A to 5C is divided;

FIGS. 8A and 8B are views for describing a method of making a touchgesture for selecting a character on the touch input apparatus shown inFIGS. 6A to 6C;

FIGS. 9A, 9B, and 9C are views for describing a method in which acontroller controls a first character input UI according to the touchgesture shown in FIGS. 8A and 8B;

FIG. 10 shows an embodiment of a second character input UI displayed ona display unit; and

FIG. 11 is a flowchart illustrating a vehicle control method accordingto an embodiment of the present disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Reference will now be made in detail to the embodiments of the presentdisclosure, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanyingdrawings, wherein like reference numerals refer to like elementsthroughout.

Hereinafter, a vehicle, and a control method thereof will be describedin detail, with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 shows an outer appearance of a vehicle according to an embodimentof the present disclosure.

As shown in FIG. 1, a vehicle 1 according to an embodiment of thepresent disclosure may include a main body 10 forming an outerappearance of the vehicle 1, wheels 21 and 22 to move the vehicle 1,doors 14 to shield the interior of the vehicle 1 from the outside, afront glass 17 to provide a driver inside the vehicle 1 with a frontview of the vehicle 1, and side-view mirrors 18 and 19 to provide thedriver with rear and side views of the vehicle 1.

The wheels 21 and 22 may include front wheels 21 provided in the frontpart of the vehicle 1, and rear wheels 22 provided in the rear part ofthe vehicle 1. The front wheels 21 or the rear wheels 22 may receiverotatory power from a driving apparatus which will be described later tomove the main body 10 forward or backward.

The doors 14 may be rotatably provided in the left and right sides ofthe main body 10 to allow the driver to open one of them and get intothe vehicle 1. Also, the doors 14 may shield the interior of the vehicle10 from the outside when all of them are closed.

The front glass 17 may be provided in the upper, front part of the mainbody 10 to provide the driver inside the vehicle 1 with a front view ofthe vehicle 1. The front glass 17 is also called windshield glass.

The side-view mirrors 18 and 19 may include a left side-view mirror 18provided in the left side of the main body 10, and a right side-viewmirror 19 provided in the right side of the main body 10 to provide thedriver inside the vehicle 1 with rear and side views of the vehicle 10.

FIG. 2 shows an interior of the vehicle 1 according to an embodiment ofthe present disclosure.

Referring to FIG. 2, the vehicle 1 may include: a plurality of seats 11in which a driver and a passenger sit; a dashboard 50 on which a gearbox 20, a center fascia 30, and a steering wheel 40 are provided; and aplurality of speakers 60.

The gear box 20 may include a transmission lever 24 for shifting gears,and a touch input apparatus 100 or 200 for controlling functionexecution of the vehicle 1. The touch input apparatus 100 or 200 willlater be described in detail.

The steering wheel 40 attached on the dashboard 50 may be used to changea driving direction of the vehicle 1. The steering wheel 40 may includea rim 41 that can be gripped by a driver, and a spoke 42 connected to asteering apparatus of the vehicle 1 and connecting the rim 31 to a hubof a rotation axis for steering. According to an embodiment, the spoke42 may include a plurality of manipulation units 42 a and 42 b forcontrolling various devices (for example, an audio system) of thevehicle 1.

In the center fascia 30 provided on the dashboard 50, an air conditioner31, a clock 32, an audio system 33, a display, etc. may be installed.

The air conditioner 31 may adjust the temperature, humidity, airquality, and flow of air inside the vehicle 1 to maintain a pleasantenvironment inside of the vehicle 1. The air conditioner 31 may beinstalled in the center fascia 30, and may include at least one vent 31a for discharging air. In the center fascia 30, at least one button ordial for controlling the air conditioner 31, etc. may be provided. Adriver or passenger may use the button provided on the center fascia 30to control the air conditioner 31.

The clock 32 may be positioned around the button or dial for controllingthe air conditioner 31.

The audio system 33 may include an operating panel on which a pluralityof buttons for executing functions of the audio system 33 are arranged.The audio system 33 may provide a radio mode to provide a radiofunction, and a media mode to reproduce an audio file stored in storagemedium that stores audio files.

The display unit 34 may display a User Interface (UI) to provide adriver with information related to the vehicle 1 in the form of an imageor text. The display unit 34 may be embedded in the center fascia 30.However, the display unit 34 may be installed in another fashion. Forexample, the display unit 34 may be separated from the center fascia 30of the vehicle 1. Details about operations of the display unit 34 willbe described later.

The display unit 34 may be a Liquid Crystal Display (LCD), a LightEmitting Diode (LED) display, a Plasma Display Panel (PDP) display, anOrganic Light Emitting Diode (OLED) display, or a Cathode Ray Tube (CRT)display, although the display unit 34 is not limited to these.

Also, the dashboard 50 may further include an instrument panel todisplay speed, Revolutions Per Minute (RPM), and a fuel gauge of thevehicle 1, and a globe box to store various things.

In the inside of the vehicle 1, the speakers 60 may be provided tooutput sound. The speakers 60 may output information related to thevehicle 1 in the form of sound. For example, if the vehicle 1 receivesan output signal for controlling outputting of a recommended drivingmethod, the speakers 60 may output the recommended driving methodcorresponding to the output signal in the form of sound for a driver.

Meanwhile, the vehicle 1 may provide the driver with a character inputUI through the display unit 34, so that the driver or a passenger caninput a character through the touch input apparatus 100 or 200.Hereinafter, a method of manipulating the character input UI of thevehicle 1, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, will bedescribed with reference to FIG. 3.

FIG. 3 is a control block diagram of the vehicle 1 according to anembodiment of the present disclosure.

In order to manipulate the character input UI, the vehicle 1 mayinclude: the touch input apparatus 100 or 200 to detect a touch gesture;the display unit 34 to display the character input UI; storage to storea control command corresponding to the touch gesture; and a controller400 to control the display unit 34 to manipulate a character input UIthat is displayed according to the touch gesture.

The control command corresponding to the touch gesture detected by thetouch input apparatus 100 or 200 may have been stored in advance in thestorage. The storage may provide the control command to the controller400 which will be described later.

Also, the storage may have already stored completed charactercombinations, and information corresponding to the completed charactercombinations. Examples of the information corresponding to the completedcharacter combinations stored in the storage may include phone numbers,addresses, music, and video.

The display unit 34 may receive the control command from the controller400, and inform that a character selected by a passenger was selected,through the character input UI. For the operation, in the characterinput UI displayed on the display unit 34, a plurality of characters maybe arranged in the form of a circle or oval. Hereinafter, an embodimentof a first character input UI that is displayed on the display unit 34will be described with reference to FIG. 4.

FIG. 4 shows an embodiment of a first character input UI displayed onthe display unit 34.

In order to allow a passenger to select a character through the touchinput apparatus 100 or 200, the display unit 34 may display a firstcharacter input UI in which a plurality of characters are arranged tosurround a predetermined reference point P. The characters arranged inthe first character input UI may include at least one of consonants,vowels, and special characters of a predetermined language.

Referring to FIG. 4, the characters arranged to surround thepredetermined reference point P may be displayed in the left area of thefirst character input UI. The first character input UI may displaycharacters selected by the passenger in a box located in the upper,right area, sequentially in the order in which they are selected, andalso display completed character combinations that are recommended forthe passenger, below the box.

The completed character combinations that are recommended for thepassenger may be completed character combinations corresponding to aninput character combination configured with the characters sequentiallyinput by the passenger among a plurality of completed charactercombinations stored in the storage. For example, the first characterinput UI may recommend completed character combinations including theentirety of the input character combination, or completed charactercombinations including at least one character of the plurality ofcharacters configuring the input character combination.

However, the first character input UI shown in FIG. 4 is an embodimentof a first character input UI, and the first character input UI can beconfigured in any other format within a technical concept of arranging aplurality of characters to surround a predetermined reference point P.

Referring again to FIG. 3, the touch input apparatus 100 or 200 maydetect a touch operation by a passenger including a driver. In order todetect a passenger's touch operation, the touch input apparatus 100 or200 may have a concave area capable of detecting a touch operation.

Hereinafter, various embodiments of the touch input apparatus 100 or 200will be described with reference to FIGS. 5A to 5C and 6A to 6C.

FIG. 5A is a perspective view of the touch input apparatus 100 accordingto an embodiment of the present disclosure, FIG. 5B is a plan view ofthe touch input apparatus 100 of FIG. 5A, and FIG. 5C is across-sectional view of the touch input apparatus 100 cut along a lineA-A of FIG. 5B.

The touch input apparatus 100 shown in FIGS. 5A to 5C may include atouch section 110 to detect a passenger's touch operation, and a bordersection 120 located along the circumference of the touch section 110.

The touch section 110 may be a touch pad to generate a signal when apassenger contacts or approaches it using a pointer, such as his/herfinger or a touch pen. The passenger may make a predetermined touchgesture on the touch section 110 to input a desired control command.

The touch pad may be a touch film or a touch sheet including a touchsensor, regardless of its name. Also, the touch pad may be a touch panelwhich is a display unit capable of detecting a touch operation on ascreen.

Meanwhile, a touch operation of making a pointer approach a touch pad soas for the pointer to be at the proximity of the touch pad without beingin contact with the touch pad in order to recognize the location of thepointer is called “proximity touch”, and a touch operation of making apointer contact a touch pad in order to recognize the location of thepointer is called “contact touch”. The location of a pointer at whichproximity touch is recognized may be a location at which the pointerapproaches a touch pad to be vertical to the touch pad.

The touch pad may be a resistive type touch pad, an optical type touchpad, a capacitive type touch pad, an ultrasonic type touch pad, or apressure type touch pad. That is, the touch pad may be one of variouskinds of touch pads well-known in the art.

The border section 120 surrounding the touch section 110 may be providedas a separate member from the touch section 110. In the border section120, one or more key buttons or touch buttons 121 may be arranged.Accordingly, the passenger may input a control command by touching thetouch section 110 or using the buttons 121 arranged in the bordersection 120 around the touch section 110.

The touch input apparatus 100 may further include a wrist supportingpart 130 to support the passenger's wrist. The wrist supporting part 130may be positioned higher than the touch section 110. Since the wristsupporting part 130 is positioned higher than the touch section 110, thewrist supporting part 130 may prevent a passenger's wrist from beingbent when he/she touches the touch section 110 with his/her finger whileputting his/her wrist on the wrist supporting part 130. Accordingly, thewrist supporting part 130 may protect the passenger from musculoskeletalsystem disorder, while offering a good operation feeling.

The touch section 110 may include an area that is lower than theboundary line with the border section 120. That is, the touch surface ofthe touch section 110 may be lower than the boundary line with theborder section 120. For example, the touch surface of the touch section110 may be inclined downward from the boundary line with the bordersection 120, or the touch surface of the touch section 110 may have astep with respect to the boundary line with the border section 120. Forexample, as shown in FIGS. 5A to 5C, the touch section 110 may include aconcave, curved area.

Since the touch section 110 includes an area lower than the boundaryline with the border section 120, the passenger can recognize the areaof the touch section 110 and the boundary line with his/her tactileimpression. In the touch input apparatus 100, the center area of thetouch section 110 may have a high detection rate with respect to touchoperations. Also, when the passenger inputs a touch operation, thepassenger can intuitively recognize the touch area and the boundary lineso that he/she can apply a touch operation to an exact location,resulting in an improvement in accuracy of touch inputs.

The touch section 110 may include a concave area, as described above.Herein, the term “concave” means a hollow or depressed shape, and mayalso include an inclined or stepped shape, as well as a round depressedshape.

Referring to FIG. 5C, the touch section 110 may include a concave,curved area. In this case, the concave, curved surface of the touchsection 110 may have different curvatures according to area. Forexample, the center area of the concave, curved surface may have arelatively small curvature (a small radius of curvature), and the outerarea of the concave, curved surface may have a relatively greatcurvature (a greater radius of curvature).

Since the touch section 110 includes a curved surface, the passenger canfeel improved touch sensation when applying a touch input to the touchsection 110. The curved surface of the touch section 110 may similarlycorrespond to a trajectory drawn by a user fingertip's movementoccurring when he/she moves his/her finger while fixing his/her wrist orwhen he/she rotates or twists his/her wrist while spreading out his/herfingers.

Also, the touch section 110 may have a circular shape. If the touchsection 110 has a circular shape, it may be easy to form a concave,curved area in the touch section 110. Also, if the touch section 110 hasa circular shape, the passenger can easily recognize the touch area ofthe touch section 100 with his/her tactile feeling so as to easily inputrolling or spin operations.

Also, since the touch section 110 is curved, the passenger canintuitively recognize at which location of the touch section 110 his/herfinger is positioned. Also, if the touch section 110 is curved, allpoints of the touch section 110 may have different gradients.Accordingly, the passenger can intuitively recognize which location ofthe touch section 110 his/her finger touches through a sense of gradientfelt by the finger. That is, the curved shape of the touch section 110can provide the passenger with feedback about which location of thetouch section 110 his/her finger is located when he/she makes a gestureon the touch section 110 while fixing his/her eyes at some other placeinstead of the touch section 110, thereby helping the passenger makehis/her desired gesture and improving the accuracy of gesture inputs.

However, unlike the embodiment shown in FIGS. 5A to 5C, the concave areaof the touch input apparatus may be divided into two areas of a centerarea and an outer area. Hereinafter, a case in which the concave area ofthe touch input apparatus is divided into a gesture input sectioncorresponding to the center portion of the concave area and a swipinginput section corresponding to the outer portion of the concave areawill be described in detail with reference to FIGS. 6A, 6B, and 6C.

FIG. 6A is a perspective view of a touch input apparatus according toanother embodiment of the present disclosure, FIG. 6B is a plan view ofthe touch input apparatus of FIG. 6A, and FIG. 6C is a cross-sectionalview of the touch input apparatus cut along a line B-B of FIG. 6B.

Referring to FIGS. 6A, 6B, and 6C, a touch input apparatus 200 mayinclude touch sections 210 and 220 to detect a passenger's touch input,and a border section 230 surrounding the touch sections 210 and 220.

A method in which the touch sections 210 and 220 detect a touch input isthe same as the method described above in the embodiment of FIGS. 5A to5C.

The border section 230 surrounding the touch sections 210 and 220 may beprovided as a separate member from the touch sections 210 and 220. Inthe border section 230, one or more key buttons 232 a and 232 b or oneor more touch buttons 231 a, 231 b, and 231 c may be arranged in such away to surround the touch sections 210 and 220. The passenger may make agesture on the touch sections 210 and 220, or may input a signal usingany one of the buttons 231 a, 231 b, 232 a, 232 b, and 232 c arranged inthe border section 230 around the touch sections 210 and 220.

Also, as shown in FIGS. 6A to 6C, the touch input apparatus 200 mayfurther include a wrist supporting part 240 located in the lower portionand supporting the passenger's wrist.

Referring to FIG. 6C, the touch sections 210 and 220 may include an areathat is lower than the boundary line with the border section 230. Thatis, the touch surfaces of the touch sections 210 and 220 may be lowerthan the boundary line with the border section 230. For example, thetouch surfaces of the touch sections 210 and 220 may be inclineddownward from the boundary line with the border section 230, or thetouch surfaces of the touch sections 210 and 220 may have a step withrespect to the boundary line with the border section 230. For example,as shown in FIG. 6C, the touch sections 210 and 220 may include agesture input section 210 that is a concave, curved area.

The shape of the touch sections 210 and 220 having a concave area is thesame as that of the touch section 110 described in the embodiment ofFIGS. 5A to 5C.

The touch sections 210 and 220 according to the other embodiment of thepresent disclosure may include a swiping input section 220 inclineddownward along the circumference of the gesture input section 210. Ifthe touch sections 210 and 220 have a circular shape, the gesture inputsection 210 may be a part of a spherical surface, and the swiping inputsection 220 may surround the circumference of the gesture input section210.

The swiping input section 220 may detect a swiping gesture. For example,the passenger may make a swiping gesture along the swiping input section220 provided in the form of a circle. At this time, the passenger maymake the swiping gesture clockwise or counterclockwise along the swipinginput section 220.

The swiping input unit 220 may include gradations 221. The gradations221 may visually or tactilely inform a passenger of a relative location.For example, the gradations 221 may be embossed or engraved. Thegradations 221 may be arranged at regular intervals. Accordingly, thepassenger can intuitively recognize the number of gradations throughwhich his/her finger passes while making a swiping operation so as toaccurately adjust a duration of the swiping gesture.

According to an embodiment, a cursor that is displayed on the displayunit 34 (see FIG. 2) may move according to the number of gradations 221through which a finger passes when a swiping gesture is made. If thepassenger makes a swiping gesture when various selected characters weresuccessively displayed on the display unit 34, a selected character maymove to the right by a space whenever the passenger's finger passesthrough a gradation 221.

A gradient of the swiping input section 220 shown in FIGS. 6A, 6B, and6C may be greater than a gradient in the direction of tangent of theswiping input section 220 with respect to the boundary line between theswiping input section 220 and the gesture input section 210. Since theswiping input unit 220 is more steeply inclined than the gesture inputsection 210, the passenger may intuitively recognize the gesture inputsection 210 when making a gesture on the gesture input section 210.Meanwhile, while a gesture is made on the gesture input section 210, notouch input applied on the swiping input section 220 may be recognized.Accordingly, when the passenger makes a gesture on the gesture inputsection 210 until reaching the boundary line with the swiping inputsection 220, the gesture input made on the gesture input section 210 maynot overlap with any swiping gesture input made on the swiping inputsection 220.

Meanwhile, the swiping input section 220 may be integrated into thegesture input section 210. Also, a plurality of touch sensors may berespectively installed in the gesture input section 210 and the swipinginput section 220, or a touch sensor may be installed in the gestureinput section 210 and the swiping input section 220. If the gestureinput section 210 and the swiping input section 220 include a touchsensor, the controller 400 may distinguish the touch area of the gestureinput section 210 from the touch area of the swiping input section 220to distinguish a signal generated in correspondence to a touch inputapplied on the gesture input section 210 from a signal generated incorrespondence to a touch input applied on the swiping input section220.

The touch input apparatus 200 may further include one or more buttons231 and 232, as described above. The buttons 231 and 232 may be arrangedaround the touch sections 210 and 220. The buttons 231 and 232 mayinclude one or more touch buttons 231 a, 231 b, and 231 c to perform apredetermined function according to the passenger's touch input, and oneor more pressure buttons 232 a and 232 b to change its positionaccording to pressure applied by the passenger to perform apredetermined function.

Referring again to FIG. 3, the controller 400 may control the displayunit 34 to inform that one of a plurality of characters included in thefirst character input UI being currently displayed was select, based ona touch input sensed by the concave area of the touch input apparatus100 or 200.

Before controlling the display unit 34 to manipulate the first characterinput UI, the controller 400 may divide the concave area of the touchinput apparatus 100 or 200.

FIG. 7 shows a case in which a concave area of the touch input apparatus100 shown in FIGS. 5A to 5C is divided.

In the touch input apparatus 100 shown in FIGS. 5A to 5C, the controller400 may divide a touch section 110, which is a concave area, into afirst area S1 and a second area S2, wherein the second area S2corresponds to the central portion of the touch section 110 and has acircular shape, and the first area S1 surrounds the circumference of thesecond area S2.

However, in the touch input apparatus 200 shown in FIGS. 6A to 6C, thecontroller 400 may divide the concave area into a first area S1 and asecond area S2 in a different way. More specifically, the controller 400may set the swiping input section 220 to a first area S1 and the gestureinput section 210 to a second area S2.

If the concave area of the touch input apparatus 100 or 200 is dividedinto the first area S1 and the second area S2, the controller 400 maycontrol the display unit 34 to manipulate the first character input UIthat is displayed according to a touch gesture detected through thetouch input apparatus 100 or 200.

Hereinafter, an embodiment of a method in which the first characterinput UI that is displayed on the display unit 34 according to a touchgesture is manipulated will be described. For convenience ofdescription, it is assumed that a touch gesture is made on the touchinput apparatus 200 shown in FIGS. 6A to 6C.

FIGS. 8A and 8B are views for describing a method of making a touchgesture for selecting a character on the touch input apparatus 200 shownin FIGS. 6A to 6C, and FIGS. 9A, 9B, and 9C are views for describing amethod in which the controller 400 controls the first character input UIaccording to the touch gesture shown in FIGS. 8A and 8B.

If the first character input UI as shown in FIG. 4 is displayed, apassenger may touch a second location which is an arbitrary location onthe first area S1 including the swiping input section 220 of the touchinput apparatus 200. Then, as shown in FIG. 9A, the controller 400 maycontrol the display unit 34 to enlarge a character G corresponding tothe second location rather than other characters. Thereby, the displayunit 34 may inform that the character G can be selected.

As described above, the swiping input section 220 can recognize aswiping gesture, and the passenger may make a gesture of moving his/herfinger clockwise or counterclockwise from the second location of thefirst area S1. In FIG. 8A, a case in which a gesture of moving a fingerclockwise from the second location of the first areas S1 is made isshown.

If a swiping gesture is detected from the second location of the firstarea S1, the display unit 34 may enlarge characters sequentially along adirection in which the swiping gesture is made. If a swiping gesturemade clockwise is detected as shown in FIG. 8A, the controller 400 maycontrol the display unit 34 to sequentially enlarge characters clockwisefrom the character G.

The passenger may visually check the characters that are sequentiallyenlarged to correspond to the swiping gesture, through the display unit34, and stop swiping when a character he/she wants to select isenlarged. That is, the controller 400 may control the display unit 34 toenlarge a character the passenger wants to select, at a first locationat which a finger moved from the second location of the first area S1moves no longer. In FIG. 9B, a case in which a character the passengerwants to select is “N” is shown.

Then, as shown in FIG. 8B, the passenger may make a gesture of movinghis/her finger from the first location of the first area S1 at whichswiping is stopped to the second area S2. The gesture may correspond toa command for selecting the character corresponding to the firstlocation.

As a result, the controller 400 may control the display unit 34 toinform that the character corresponding to the first location wasselected. Referring to FIG. 9C, the display unit 34 may display theselected character N in a central area surrounded by a characterarrangement configured with a plurality of characters, thereby informingthe passenger that the character N was selected.

Meanwhile, if a gesture of moving the finger to the first area S1 isdetected following the gesture of moving the finger from the firstlocation to the second area S2, the controller 400 may control thedisplay unit 34 to inform that the selected character was cancelled. Forexample, as shown in FIG. 9C, if a selection cancellation gesture isdetected after it is informed that the character N was selected, thedisplay unit 34 may no longer display the character N displayed in thecentral area surrounded by the character arrangement.

So far, a case in which when a gesture of moving a finger from the firstlocation of the first area S1 to the second area S2 is detected, thedisplay unit 34 informs that a character corresponding to the firstlocation was selected has been described.

However, if the touch input apparatus 200 is configured to sensepressure applied when a touch gesture is made, through the concave area,the first character input UI may be manipulated according to the touchgesture and the sensed result of the pressure.

For example, when pressure is sensed at the first location, and then agesture of moving a finger from the first location to the second area S2is detected, the controller 400 may recognize the detected gesture as acharacter selection command. Accordingly, when pressure is sensed at thefirst location, and then a gesture of moving a finger from the firstlocation to the second area S2 is detected, the display unit 34 mayinform that a character corresponding to the first location wasselected.

When a gesture of moving a finger from the first location to the secondarea S2 is detected, and then pressure is sensed at the second area S2,the controller 400 may recognize the detected gesture as a characterselection command. Accordingly, when a gesture of moving a finger fromthe first location to the second area S2 is detected, and then pressureis sensed at the second area S2, the display unit 34 may inform that acharacter corresponding to the first location was selected.

Also, when pressure is sensed at the first location, a gesture of movinga finger from the first location to the second area S2 is detected, andthen pressure is sensed at the second area S2, the controller 400 mayrecognize the detected gesture as a character selection command.Accordingly, when pressure is sensed at the first location, a gesture ofmoving his/her finger from the first location to the second area S3 isdetected, and then, pressure is sensed at the second area S2, thedisplay unit 34 may inform that a character corresponding to the firstlocation was selected.

Meanwhile, as shown in FIG. 4, if an input character combinationconfigured with characters input sequentially is “Amberg”, the firstcharacter input UI may display completed character combinations“Adendorf”, “Affalterbach”, “Ahlen”, and “Augburg” corresponding to theinput character combination “Amberg”, together with the input charactercombination “Amberg”.

Then, the controller 400 may determine whether the number of pre-storedcompleted character combinations corresponding to the input charactercombination configured with at least one character selected sequentiallyby a touch gesture detected by the touch input apparatus 200 is smallerthan or equal to a threshold value. Herein, the threshold value maycorrespond to the maximum number of completed character combinationswhich is enough to display a second character input UI which will bedescribed below, and the threshold value may have been decided when thevehicle 1 (see FIG. 1) is manufactured, or may be decided by apassenger's input.

If the number of the pre-stored completed character combinationscorresponding to the input character combination is smaller than orequal to the threshold value, the controller 400 may control the displayunit 34 to display a second character input UI in which the completedcharacter combinations corresponding to the input character combinationare arranged in the form of a circle or oval.

FIG. 10 shows an embodiment of a second character input UI displayed onthe display unit 34.

In FIG. 10, a second character input UI in which an input charactercombination “Amberg”, and completed character combinations “Adendorf”,“affalterbach”, “Ahlen”, and “Augburg” corresponding to the inputcharacter combination “Amberg” are arranged to surround a predeterminedreference point P is shown.

A passenger may visually check the second character input UI, and thenmake a gesture of selecting any one of the arranged completed charactercombinations on the touch input apparatus 200.

A gesture of selecting a completed character combination with respect tothe second character input UI may be the same as a gesture of selectinga completed character combination with respect to the first characterinput UI, and a gesture of cancelling a selection of a completedcharacter combination with respect to the second character input UI mayalso be the same as a gesture of cancelling a selection of a completedcharacter combination with respect to the first character input UI.Accordingly, detailed descriptions thereof will be omitted.

If the gesture of selecting the completed character combination isdetected, the controller 400 may search for information corresponding tothe selected completed character combination in the storage, and controlthe vehicle 1 based on the found information. Simultaneously, thecontroller 400 may control the display unit 34 to inform that thecompleted character combination was selected. For example, the displayunit 34 may display the selected completed character combination in acentral area surrounded by the plurality of completed charactercombinations, thereby informing the passenger that the displayedcompleted character combination was selected.

As such, by displaying the second character input UI, the passenger canselect a completed character combination without having to input allcharacters individually.

FIG. 11 is a flowchart illustrating a vehicle control method accordingto an embodiment of the present disclosure.

Referring to FIGS. 2 and 11, the display unit 34 may display a firstcharacter input UI in which a plurality of characters are arranged tosurround a reference point, in operation 700. The characters arranged inthe first character input UI may include at least one of consonants,vowels, and special characters of a predetermined language. Since theplurality of characters is arranged in this way, a passenger can easilymanipulate the first character input UI through the concave area of thetouch input apparatus 100 or 200.

Then, the touch input apparatus 100 or 200 may determine whether agesture of selecting a character is detected, in operation 710. Morespecifically, the touch input apparatus 100 or 200 may determine whethera gesture of moving a finger from a first location of a first area S1 ofthe concave area to a second area S2 is detected.

The second area S2 may be a circular area in the center of a touchsection which is a concave area, and the first area S1 may be a borderarea surrounding the circumference of the second area S2. The firstlocation may be a location at which a touch input of causing a charactera passenger wants to select among the plurality of characters to be in aselectable state can be detected.

If no gesture of selecting a character is detected, the touch inputapparatus 100 or 200 may continue to determine whether a gesture ofselecting a character is detected.

Meanwhile, if a gesture of selecting a character is detected, thedisplay unit 34 may display the selected character, in operation 720. Ifthere is another character selected earlier than the currently selectedcharacter, the currently selected character may be displayed followingthe previously selected character.

Then, the controller may determine whether the number of completedcharacter combinations corresponding to an input character combinationconfigured with the sequentially selected characters is smaller than orequal to a threshold value, in operation 730. Herein, the thresholdvalue may correspond to the maximum number of completed charactercombinations which is enough to display a second character input UIwhich will be described below, and the threshold value may have beendecided when the vehicle 1 (see FIG. 1) is manufactured, or may bedecided by a passenger's input.

If the controller determines that the number of the completed charactercombinations corresponding to the input character combination is greaterthan the threshold value, the vehicle 1 may return to operation 710 todetermine whether a gesture of selecting a character is detected.

Meanwhile, if the controller determines that the number of the completedcharacter combinations corresponding to the input character combinationis smaller than or equal to the threshold value, the display unit 34 maydisplay a second character input UI in which the completed charactercombinations corresponding to the input character combination arearranged to surround a reference point, in operation 740.

The completed character combinations arranged in the second characterinput UI may be completed character combinations including the entiretyof the input character combination, or completed character combinationsincluding at least one of a plurality of characters configuring theinput character combination.

Then, the touch input apparatus 100 or 200 may determine whether agesture of selecting a completed character combination from among thecompleted character combinations is detected, in operation 750. Morespecifically, the touch input apparatus 100 or 200 may determine whethera gesture of moving a finger from a third location of the first area S1of the concave area to the second area S2 is detected.

The third location may be a location at which a touch input of causing acompleted character combination a passenger wants to select among theplurality of completed character combinations to be in a selectablestate can be detected.

If no gesture of selecting a completed character combination isdetected, the touch input apparatus 100 or 200 may continue to determinewhether a gesture of selecting a completed character combination isdetected.

Meanwhile, if a gesture of selecting a completed character combinationis detected, the display unit 34 may display the selected completedcharacter combination, in operation 760.

According to the vehicle and the control method thereof as describedabove, by displaying a character input UI to show pre-stored completedcharacter combinations corresponding to an input character combinationconfigured with input characters, it is possible to provide a passengerwith an environment in which he/she can easily input characters.

As a result, it is possible to reduce a time taken to input charactersand to reduce vehicle operating load, which leads to an improvement ofdriving safety.

Although a few embodiments of the present disclosure have been shown anddescribed, it would be appreciated by those skilled in the art thatchanges may be made in these embodiments without departing from theprinciples and spirit of the disclosure, the scope of which is definedin the claims and their equivalents.

What is claimed is:
 1. A vehicle comprising: a display unit fordisplaying a first character input User Interface (UI) in which aplurality of characters are arranged to surround a predeterminedreference point; a touch input apparatus having a concave area fordetecting a touch gesture of selecting one character of the plurality ofcharacters; and a controller for controlling the display unit todisplay, wherein if the number of pre-stored completed charactercombinations corresponding to an input character combination configuredwith at least one character sequentially selected according to the touchgesture detected by the touch input apparatus is smaller than or equalto a threshold value, a second character input UI in which the completedcharacter combinations corresponding to the input character combinationare arranged to surround the reference point.
 2. The vehicle accordingto claim 1, wherein the touch input apparatus detects a touch gesture ofselecting a completed character combination from among the arrangedcompleted character combinations.
 3. The vehicle according to claim 2,wherein the controller controls the display unit to inform that theselected completed character combination was selected.
 4. The vehicleaccording to claim 2, wherein the touch input apparatus includes aconcave area divided into a first area and a second area, wherein thesecond area corresponds to the central part of the concave area and hasa circular shape, and the first area surrounds the circumference of thesecond area.
 5. The vehicle according to claim 4, wherein if a gestureof moving a touch location from the first area to the second area isdetected, the controller controls the display unit to inform that acharacter or a completed character combination corresponding to thetouch location of the first area was selected.
 6. The vehicle accordingto claim 5, wherein if the gesture of moving the touch location from thefirst area to the second area is detected, and successively a gesture ofmoving the touch location to the first area is detected, the controllercontrols the display unit to inform that the selection of the selectedcharacter or the selected completed character combination was cancelled.7. The vehicle according to claim 1, wherein, if the number of completedcharacter combinations including the entirety of the input charactercombination is smaller than or equal to the threshold value, thecontroller controls the display unit to display the second characterinput UI.
 8. The vehicle according to claim 1, wherein if the number ofcompleted character combinations including at least one character ofcharacters configuring the input character combination is smaller thanor equal to the threshold value, the controller controls the displayunit to display the second character input UI.
 9. The vehicle accordingto claim 1, wherein the controller controls the display unit to displaya second character input UI in which the completed charactercombinations corresponding to the input character combination areadjusted to have a predetermined length.
 10. The vehicle according toclaim 9, wherein the controller reduces the sizes of the completedcharacter combinations so that the completed character combinations havethe predetermined length.
 11. The vehicle according to claim 9, whereinthe controller omits at least one character of characters configuringeach completed character combination so that the completed charactercombinations have the predetermined length.
 12. A method of controllinga vehicle, the vehicle including a touch input apparatus having aconcave area configured to detect a touch gesture, comprising:displaying a first character input User Interface (UI) in which aplurality of characters are arranged to surround a predeterminedreference point; detecting a touch gesture of selecting a character ofthe plurality of characters; and displaying, if the number of pre-storedcompleted character combinations corresponding to an input charactercombination configured with at least one character sequentially selectedaccording to the touch gesture detected by the touch input apparatus issmaller than or equal to a threshold value, a second character input UIin which the completed character combinations corresponding to the inputcharacter combination are arranged to surround the reference point. 13.The method according to claim 12, further comprising: detecting a touchgesture of selecting a completed character combination from among thearranged completed character combinations; and informing that theselected completed character combination was selected.
 14. The methodaccording to claim 13, further comprising dividing a concave area into afirst area and a second area, wherein the second area corresponds to thecentral part of the concave area and has a circular shape, and the firstarea surrounds the circumference of the second area.
 15. The methodaccording to claim 14, further comprising if a gesture of moving a touchlocation from the first area to the second area is detected when thefirst character input UI is displayed, informing that a charactercorresponding to the touch location of the first area was selected. 16.The method according to claim 15, further comprising if the gesture ofmoving the touch location from the touch location of the first area tothe second area is detected, and successively a gesture of moving thetouch location to the first area is detected, informing that theselection of the selected character was cancelled.
 17. The methodaccording to claim 14, further comprising if a gesture of moving a touchlocation from the first area to the second area is detected when thesecond character input UI is displayed, informing that a completedcharacter combination corresponding to the touch location of the firstarea was selected.
 18. The method according to claim 17, furthercomprising if the gesture of moving the touch location from the firstarea to the second area is detected, and successively a gesture ofmoving the touch location to the first area is detected, informing thatthe selection of the selected completed character combination wascancelled.
 19. The method according to claim 12, wherein the displayingof the second character input UI comprises displaying the secondcharacter input UI, if the number of completed character combinationsincluding the entirety of the input character combination is smallerthan or equal to the threshold value.
 20. The method according to claim12, wherein the displaying of the second character input UI comprisesdisplaying the second character input UI, if the number of completedcharacter combinations including at least one character of charactersconfiguring the input character combination is smaller than or equal tothe threshold value.
 21. The method according to claim 12, wherein thedisplaying of the second character input UI comprises displaying asecond character input UI in which the completed character combinationscorresponding to the input character combination are adjusted to have apredetermined length.
 22. The method according to claim 21, wherein thedisplaying of the second character input UI comprises reducing the sizesof the completed character combinations so that the completed charactercombinations have the predetermined length.
 23. The method according toclaim 21, wherein the displaying of the second character input UIcomprises omitting at least one character of characters configuring eachcompleted character combination so that the completed charactercombinations have the predetermined length.